'Show me Your Idea'
By Nuno Leung

"Everything starts from an idea. If you got the idea, then just go ahead and do it. We don't know if it works or not. We just put all our efforts in," Gaby Ho, the founder of Macao Music Power, shared his success and great experience in the music field.

 

Ho graduated from Macao Polytechnic Institute with a Higher Diploma in Music (Education) and Hong Kong Arts and Performing Academy with a certificate in Sound Design and Music Recording. In his secondary school years, he was already active in the music circle of Macao, including off stage production, songwriting, music arrangement, recording and concert production as well as on stage performance. Since 1988, he has been collaborating with different artists and musicians, writing and recording songs for them so as to develop the music of Macao. Moreover, he also formed a band named GAS, which had entered the music circle of Hong Kong.

 

In 1994, Ho set up Macao Music Power, which aims to promote the Macao local music, and cultivates youngsters and music-lovers by providing them more chances to understand Macao music culture. It has been helping to organize many different cultural events and music activities, such as the Macao Original Song Writers Quest with University of Macau Music Society since 2004. One of the most well-known events they've been helping with is the Hush Full Band, the biggest rock music festival in the city, which was organized by the Macao Cultural Centre based on their original idea. In 2005, the Hush Full Band was held first time in the Macao Culture Centre.

 

"I'd say the Hush Full Band is the largest rock music festival in Macao right now," Ho said.

 

At the end of every year, many different bands from all over the world including Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China and Malaysia will perform in the Hush together with Macao local bands. It is the first international rock music festival in Macao. Not only musicians go to this event, but also many Macao residents would love to enjoy the rock music atmosphere. Hush Full Band 2010 was held on Nov 13. There were totally 17 bands non-stop performing from 3 pm to 11 pm. All the audiences were rockin' on the venue and screaming crazily throughout the whole day.

 

"The Hush Full Band always makes me feel nervous and excited. It's just so fantastic that we've got to perform in front of such a big crowd and we also can see so many great bands from all over the world. And we get a chance to learn from them," said Fabio, the drummer of a Macao local band, O.T.O., which has participated in Hush for six years.

 

Having been working in the Macao entertainment industry for more than a decade, Ho revealed that it was a long and tough journey. There were some people who worked with him in the beginning had already quit. The only thing that keeps him in this is only his passion for the music. His success today all started from an idea. Similar as Hush, it was only an idea in the beginning. However, he tried his best to make this idea come true. "What you need is an idea, and you must be brave and try it out. Go ahead and strive for your goal," Ho added.